Programs
Get in Touch!
Christina Barrigan
509-963-1750
Christina.Barrigan@cwu.edu
Theatre Arts would like nothing more than to see your name in lights. The department is an ensemble of artists, scholars, educators, and practitioners who foster creativity and excellence while preparing students for careers and further study in theatre.
One of the signature programs at CWU, Theatre Arts graduates have found success in some of the nation’s top MFA programs as well as in professional theatre organizations and productions such as WICKED, the Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and the National Shakespeare Company. Students earn a BFA in Theatre Arts with a specialization in performance, musical theatre, or design and production.
CWU’s Theatre Arts incorporates state-of-the-industry techniques, such as Rasaboxes, View Points and Susuki in performance training. It also incorporates specialized software, such as VectorWorks®, Bourtique®, and QLab®, in design and technical training.
Christina Barrigan
509-963-1750
Christina.Barrigan@cwu.edu
The Theatre Arts: Design and Production BFA is designed to prepare knowledgeable, skilled graduates who will compete at all levels in an increasingly competitive field. Students will also learn to assess, explain, and interpret the many roles and responsibilities inherent in the world of the professional theatre artist.
Students have opportunities to build solid portfolios by completing main stage projects in their focus areas. Students choose from a range of courses, both introductory and advanced, from writing and drawing, to construction and sewing, while pursuing one of the following specializations: scenic design and technology, costume design and technology, lighting design and technology, sound design and technology, and stage and production management.
Professional opportunities abound in professional theatre and entertainment industries to include repertory companies, performing arts centers, regional theatres, touring companies, dinner theatres, film and television, theme parks, children's theatre and industrial films and shows.
More and more CWU grads are finding their way into some of the most prestigious graduate programs in the country, which will allow for even further advancement in the business. In the past five years the department has placed more than 20 graduates in MA and MFA programs throughout the country, most with full scholarships and assistantships.
Christina Barrigan
509-963-1750
Christina.Barrigan@cwu.edu
The Theatre Arts: Music Theatre BFA builds specific skills through singing, acting, and stage movement in the musical theatre style. Students choose from a range of courses, both introductory and advanced, from writing and movement, to dancing and voice.
The musical theatre program is innovative and interdisciplinary. Students complete a sequence of core foundation courses, gain admission into the program through audition/interview, and focus in a single emphasis-performance, design and production, or musical theatre. The major builds specific skills in production from a strong foundation of using the body as the artist’s instrument through singing, voice, and stage movement in the musical theatre style.
Professional opportunities abound in professional theatre and entertainment industries to include repertory companies, performing arts centers, regional theatres, touring companies, dinner theatres, film and television, theme parks, children's theatre and industrial films and shows. • More and more CWU grads are finding their way into some of the most prestigious graduate programs in the country, which will allow for even further advancement in the business. In the past five years the department has placed more than 20 graduates in MA and MFA programs throughout the country, most with full scholarships and assistantships
Scott Robinson
509-963-1750
scott.robinson@cwu.edu
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance builds specific skills through acting styles, voice, and stage movement. Students choose from a range of courses, both introductory and advanced, from writing and dancing, to stage and screen.
One of the signature programs at CWU, Theatre Arts graduates have found success in some of the nation’s top MFA programs as well as in professional theatre organizations and productions such as WICKED, the Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and the National Shakespeare Company.
CWU’s Theatre Arts incorporates state-of-the-industry techniques, such as Rasaboxes, View Points and Susuki in performance training. It also incorporates specialized software, such as VectorWorks®, Bourtique®, and QLab®, in design and technical training.
Christina Barrigan
509-963-1750
Christina.Barrigan@cwu.edu
The Theatre Education BFA is designed to prepare knowledgeable, skilled graduates who will compete in an increasingly competitive field and become effective professional theatre educators.
Theatre Education students will learn to assess, explain, and interpret the many roles and responsibilities inherent in the world of the educational theatre artist. They will also understand how to use the skills they have developed in other career paths related to their degree.
The Theatre Education BFA meets state endorsement standards for Theatre and provides one of the strongest teacher candidate preparation programs in the state. This pre-professional training program will prepare students for careers in K-12 as well as educational programming with regional theatres.
Christina Barrigan
509-963-1750
christina.barrigan@cwu.edu
Central's Theatre Studies degree is a perfect choice for the theatre artist. The general studies emphasis allows for advanced study in a variety of areas.
Theatre studies provides students a broad study of theatre within the liberal arts environment. Theatre students can choose a program that is tailored to their own personal preferences and enjoy a full spectrum of theatre experiences.
Theatre studies will help you become the kind of well-rounded theatre artist who can go on to a focused study in graduate school or a variety of careers in the field. It also is a great choice for the student who has a number of interests and needs the flexibility to explore several options.
Why study theatre at CWU?
CWU theatre students work closely with award-winning, professional theatre faculty from the very beginning.
Average theatre class size is 12 and the average ratio of students to faculty is 8:1.
Theatre students have recently completed internships with Seattle Musical Theatre, The 5th Ave Theatre (Seattle), Disneyland and Disney World.
Students in Central’s theatre program have been invited to participate in international tours (Italy and Bulgaria).
Students have opportunities to build solid portfolios by completing main stage projects in their focus areas.
Opportunities abound in professional theatre and entertainment industries to include repertory companies, performing arts centers, regional theatres, touring companies, dinner theatres, film and television, theme parks, children's theatre and industrial films and shows.
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Points of Pride
Theatre Arts chair Scott Robinson is a two-time recipient of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Gold Medallion. In addition, the department has earned numerous awards from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Festival.
CWU theatre alumni are employed in venues from Broadway to Disneyland, and from the circus, to the opera to cruise lines in addition to securing employment with numerous theatre opportunities throughout the Pacific Northwest.
More and more CWU grads are finding their way into some of the most prestigious graduate programs in the country. In the past five years the department has placed more than 20 graduates in MA and MFA programs throughout the country, most with full scholarships and assistantships.